Files, Agents, “Deep State,” and Russian Influence: The Legacy of the Communist State Security Service in Bulgaria

Abstract

How much influence did the former communist state security service Darzhavna sigurnost (DS) have during the transformation period in Bulgaria? For the first time in history, there is empirical data available that allow for an analysis of the role of the Bulgarian secret police and its “afterlife” after 1990. Bulgarian intelligence archives, which were made partly accessible following the country’s admission to the European Union in 2007, provide an excellent basis for an analysis of the relationship between the DS and the Soviet State Committee for Security, the transformation of the Bulgarian security apparatus in 1990, attempts to disclose the state security archives, and continuous infiltration of Bulgarian politics, institutions, and security apparatus by former agents of the communist intelligence and security apparatus. The empirical data suggest that personal connections, dependencies, and informal networks of former DS agents and officials played an important role during the transformation period in Bulgaria and are at least partly responsible for political corruption, continuous Russian influence, a high degree of politicization of the Bulgarian security apparatus, misuse of intelligence and illegal surveillance practices, and a high degree of domestic and international mistrust and (dis-)loyalty.